Abstract

ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF CYMBOPOGON CITRATUS ESSENTIAL OIL (EO) ON GERMS RESPONSIBLE FOR CUTANEOUS DISEASE

Agré Don Josette*, Bolou Gbouhoury Eric-Kevin, Kipré Gueyraud Rolland, Kouamé Adjoba Débora

ABSTRACT

In order to remedy the phenomenon of microorganism resistance to antibiotics and contribute to the valorization of medicinal plants in Côte d'Ivoire, an efficacy test of Cymbopogon citratus essential oil was carried out on the in vitro growth of Candida albicans, Trichophyton rubrum and Staphylococcus aureus. This study focused on evaluating the antimicrobial power of this essential oil on germs responsible for skin disorders. To do this, we extracted the essential oil (EO) of Cymbopogon citratus by steam distillation. The antimicrobial activity of the EO was determined using the diffusion test and the double dilution method in a solid medium. The chemical compounds of the essential oil were then determined by Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry. The EO extraction yield obtained was 0.21%. Microbiological tests showed that C. citratus EO was active on all three microorganisms tested, with inhibition diameters and MICs of 43 mm and 0.039 µL/mL for S. aureus, 90 mm and 0.078 µL/mL for C. albicans and 55 mm and 0.156 µL/mL for T. rubrum. The identification of chemical compounds in C. citratus EO by GC/MS revealed 19 terpene compounds, the main ones being β-Myrcene (13.105%), Neral (14.822%), Citral (21.670%), Nerol (11.775%), Tetradecyl Methacrylate (13.587%) and Ageratriol (10.618%). Cymbopogon citratus essential oil would be suitable for treating skin disorders.

Keywords: antimicrobial activity, Cymbopogon citratus, essential oils, skin disorders.